Maybe, Someday (Hosie, Legacies)

Sugar, we're going down || part=2

The next morning, Hope was startled awake when Josie shook her lightly. Hope's eyes flew open and she scanned the room for a threat.

Josie smiled and pressed a finger to Hope's lips. "Shhh..nothing's wrong...I just..." She grabbed Hope's hand and pulled her (Hope let her do so willingly) out of bed, and then led her to the bathroom before she closed the door behind them. Josie quickly turned on the shower and then reached behind Hope to lock the door. Then she claimed Hope's lips in a kiss.

She pulled away after a moment, and Hope unconsciously chased Josie's lips with her own. Josie giggled at her as she held Hope in place. "Sorry. I thought we could talk a little before the others woke up, but I also really needed to kiss you."

Josie pecked Hope's lips again, then licked her own as she stepped away. Hope traced the movement with her eyes as she immediately felt her own arousal burn deep within her. She groaned and snapped her darkening eyes shut, and then she let her head fall back against the door.

"What did you want to talk about?" Hope wondered, attempting to be as casual as she could.

Josie shrugged and suddenly looked anxious; so Hope stepped toward her and wrapped her arms around her securely...gently...reassuringly.

"Whatever you have to say...whatever you want to talk about...you don't have to be scared. Just say it."

Josie looked up at her. "First of all, Lizzie...she...I know that she'll never actually say it, not now, not after Penelope's revelation about why she cheated on me and Lizzie admitting why she hated her. But...I know she's terrified of being left behind. I'm not the only one that feels things shifting for all of us. I know she can feel it, too. We're all getting closer. But some of us are getting closer than others."

Hope frowned. "You're not jealous or threatened of Penelope, are you?"

Josie shook her head.  "Not at all. I like the way you are together. You're so serious all the time, so concerned about everyone and as amazing as that is and as noble as you are...sometimes, I just really like to see you smile. And I know I make you happy. I do. But Penelope makes you laugh. She's funny and she brings out a side to you...a side that I love to see. You're lighter around her. You are with Lizzie, too. The gentle teasing and playful banter. It's great. I never thought I'd see you open up the way you have, to let so many people in...and being happy looks really good on you." Josie smiled at her seductively. "Like... really good."

Hope smirked and kissed her again. But she didn't push too far because she could sense that Josie hadn't finished what she needed to say.

"But?"

"But Lizzie is feeling left out...like she isn't as important to our pack...like she's expendable. She knows she means everything to me, but if you could just...take some extra care to include her, to maybe spend one on one time with her sometimes. Let her know that no matter how close you and I continue to get...no matter what else happens down the road...that she is important. That she matters. That she's needed and loved."

Hope nodded resolutely. "Absolutely. I can do that. And she is . I love her like a sister. I need her in my life. And she is better and stronger and more amazing than she realizes."

Josie smiled happily. "She is."

Hope leaned into Josie so that their foreheads touched and she looked deeply into Josie's magnificent brown orbs. "And so are you . Strong, amazing, beautiful, perfect." She grinned. "Well, imperfectly perfect. Just the way I love you."

They kissed again. Hope's hands wandered easily and frantically up and down Josie's body.

Eventually, Josie pulled away breathlessly. "You know...we could actually take a shower..."